September 4, 2001 - Unbreakable Spirit

September 4, 2001 - click to embiggen

Although I tried to avoid it, pop/geek culture references crept into the punchlines. This is slightly funny if you’ve seen "Unbreakable." I did like to include in-jokes now and again. I like how the "camera" continues to close in on Gentle--one of the few times I was deliberately cinematic.

I continued to experiment with Jake’s eyes, and the little orphan Annie look did not do him any favors. 

August 27, 2001 - You Gonna Pay For That?

August 27, 2001 - click to embiggen

We're back at the comic shop. I wanted to feature Joe specifically to establish that he is the simple literalist--a staple of many classic sitcoms.

August 20, 2001 - "I Like My Shows"

August 20, 2001 - Click to embiggen

Hey everyone, welcome and thanks to those of you who keep coming back.

This strip and the one previous have the exact same structure--a close-up in the first three frames and a pull back to “reveal” the punchline. Strangers in Paradise is a comic by Terry Moore often likened to a soap opera, so the gag here is intended more for “insiders.”

August 13, 2001 - Head Warmer

August 13, 2001 - Click to embiggen

Even though most of my characters had names, I didn’t commit to using them in the dialogue until now. I’d considered keeping names out of the mix, but my father wisely convinced me it would help in the long run. I agree, and future strips benefited greatly. Thanks, Dad!

August 6, 2001 - Of Goths and Geeks

August 6, 2001 - Click to embiggen

Hey all, hope you are enjoying these. Revisiting them has been a blast (12 years ago!), and I feel like we're slowly coming to the place where I hit my stride.

I openly admit that this strip was an attempt to copy a favorite delivery style from Foxtrot--cyclical dialogue. The first line in effect becomes the punchline. It is hard. (And yes, I cobbled a line from The Smiths and stuck it in the Goth's tirade.)

July 31, 2001 - Bite My Tongue

July 31, 2001 - Click to embiggen

This one was personal. I often had to listen to customers for far longer than I would have preferred. I stuck Barry with the unfortunate trait of being a bit clueless.

After I realized that I had failed to put this up on the website originally, I redrew the strip and hid it as an “Easter Egg.” One had to click on Gentle’s nose on the main page to find it. I have no idea if anyone ever did. 

July 24, 2001 - Order Up

July 24, 2001 - Click to embiggen

Hey everyone. It was time to have Jake interact with the girl again. Well, sort of. (I redrew this strip when I realized I couldn’t find the entire original...)

July 17, 2001 - The Stickler

July 17, 2001 - Click to embiggen

My game group had a guy just like this.

July 10, 2001 - Ladies and Gentlemen...

July 10, 2001 - Click to embiggen

I miss playing games. This came from another true life incident­--I was betrayed by another player I had allied with right at the end of a board game. It was a beautiful moment, and a good way to properly introduce Q the gamer.